The story of rescuing horses evacuated from combat zones

War spares no one, especially those who cannot care for themselves. That is why UVMF never ceases its fight for the rescue of animals in Ukraine. And it’s not just about pets.

One of the projects funded by a mini-grant under the BASED program is veterinary assistance and medication for horses evacuated from combat zones and occupied territories. These animals now reside in the village of Sudobychi in Rivne Oblast, brought from Kyiv, Luhansk, Donetsk, and Mykolaiv regions.

“I’ve been traveling Ukraine with my horses for 9 years in search of shelter,” says horse owner Katerina Stepanova. “Among my wards are horses from Borodyanka, whose stable was completely burned when the occupiers arrived. The animals were released and roamed for two months. Then they were caught and evacuated here. There’s Hefest, a therapy horse that helps people, especially children. Now we assist him.”

After the stress they endured, the animals needed the help of veterinarians, from basic hoof cleaning to medical care and consultations. Almost every horse had gastritis, joint problems, and numerous other diagnoses.

Treatment, the work of veterinarians, and necessary medical supplies were financed through a mini-grant from UVMF with the support of AVMF. Within the scope of the mini-grant for good deeds from UVMF and AVMF, hygienic procedures were also performed on the animals. The overall project was implemented at 34,400 UAH.

“We are very grateful to UVMF for responding to such unconventional help because we are not veterinarians. We were looking for doctors to help us. We are very grateful that they responded,” says horse owner Oksana Abramova.

You can help the animals too. UVMF provides the opportunity for everyone to become mini-grant donors. From selecting grant recipients to the full implementation of the project. Let’s do good deeds together because only together can we overcome everything!